This is a substantial fantasy on a popular tune, in several contrasting sections.
Our edition comes with two sets of parts.
Frescobaldi’s magnificent arrangement of the “Bergamasca” comes from his keybaord collection Fiori musicali, which was printed in partitura (four-part score) in Vewnice in 1635. Three rather different works from the same collection (slow toccatas) have already appeared in this series (DOL301 ↣).
Frecobaldi prefaces the present piece by the note “Chi questo Bergamasca suonarà, non pocho imparerà“ (he who plays this Bergamasca, will learn not a little).
The Bergamasca was a dance tune, based on the simplest possible ground bass (G – C – D – G), that was popular around 1600. A simple 4-part setting appears in Zanetti’s Il scolaro of 1645 (see DM5 ↣), Salamone Rossi composed a set of variations on it (see CS4 ↣), and it was the subject of a double-choir sinfonia by Viadana (see VM20 ↣). There are also many surviving lute and keyboard settings.
In the present version Frescobaldi uses the tune more than the bass, treating it in imitation, and combining it with new themes of his own, such as the chromatic figure starting in bar 96. He does, however, make use of the bass pattern from time to time; in fact the section beginning in bar 41 has it in three of the parts in turn.
This transcription follows the original almost literally. We have provided two sets of parts, one transposed up a fourth for SATT recorders, and one at the original pitch; the latter can be played on SATB, using the alternative notes supplied in the top part; however, the best combination for this version is ATTB, ideally with a G alto on the top part. The original note values have been retained throughout. A few editorial accidentals have been supplied, printed small above the stave, and applying to the single note only.
(Bernard Thomas)
